Mysterious fault on 1997 V70

kevinjplee · Jun 11th, 2018, 11:17

I was driving along when my car lost power and came o a halt.
I rang RAC, who could not get car started, and towed car to my garage.
Garage has investigated but can't find any reason for car to fail to start.
Has fuel, turns over, ECU reports no faults and no apparent loose wires .

I live in the North of Scotland (125 miles away from nearest volvo dealer)

Any suggestions?

Tatsfield · Jun 11th, 2018, 11:24

When asking for advice it is wise to give as much detail as possible about the car with which you are experiencing the problem. The engine stopped running but you don't even say what type of engine the car has! So, engine type and transmission type would be a good start. If you want help, help the helpers to help you.

kevinjplee · Jun 11th, 2018, 11:28

It is a 1997 V70XC, petrol with manual transmission.
Prior to breakdown it was driving normally, and has never just stopped before

Tatsfield · Jun 11th, 2018, 14:00

With petrol engines the mantra is fuel, ignition, air and compression and all encompassed by timing.

You have fuel but is it getting to the injectors and into the cylinders. When it gets to the cylinders, is there a spark to ignite it. Is the air supply blocked. Do the valves open to admit the air/fuel and close to allow the pistons to compress the mixture at the time that the spark is present. Since the engine was running and suddenly stopped, the likelihood is that the fault is electrical/electronic. The fact that the engine turns over isn't really relevant as that is the function of the starter motor which wouldn't have stopped the engine running. If your garage means that the car has fuel in the tank, that's a pretty basic thing but unless it gets to where it needs to go that could be the problem. Pumps are electric and injectors are electric If when it gets there the spark doesn't arrive, that's electric. If the throttle butterfly doesn't open to admit the air, that's also electric. If the car just will no longer start and run at all, the fault isn't transient.

So possible culprits are the fuel pump, the ECU failing to operate the injectors, as if it were just an injector failure the engine would run rough. It might also be a failure of the throttle body butterfly servo and lastly it might be the total failure of the ignition system as, like the injectors, a single plug failing wouldn't stop the engine dead. However the ECU itself may be a conspirator in the game as it may be shutting down the engine to protect it once it registers the faulty component. So one injector or one plug might still be the problem!

Of course the short answer is that you need to hook the car up to a Volvo VIDA/DiCE tester and let it tell you what's wrong. The car's fault logging system will know what's failed and the test gear will interrogate it and get the answer. Your choice is to buy your own on ebay to run on a suitable laptop, find the thread on the forum with the map of VIDA/DiCE owners and see if there is one near you or take the car to a dealer with the equipment. Be careful of garages with their own pet diagnostic systems as you can't really rely on anything other than the Volvo system. If you really live on the edge of the known world, having your own diagnostics would seem to be the sensible and in this case possibly only option.

Someone may come on and say "Yes that's what happened to me and the answer is......" but they could have had a different fault and no one may respond. You may be on your own.

wilbydoughboy · Jun 11th, 2018, 14:17

Something similar happened to me when I owned a Suzuki van but I felt the van stuttering before it stopped. The problem was lack of petrol reaching the engine although there was enough in the tank and it needed a new fuel sender in the tank. Maybe if you put some more petrol in the tank and see if it helps.

CTCNetwork · Jun 11th, 2018, 19:10

Hi,

Also helps to post in the correct forum for your model and year of car...

/Moving

Des. . .

DunkinBiskits · Jun 11th, 2018, 19:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTCNetwork

Hi,

Also helps to post in the correct forum for your model and year of car...

/Moving

Des. . .

1997 V70XC? hes in the right section....

as for the fault, check and test crank and cam sensors.

SwedishBus · Jun 11th, 2018, 23:23

Are you on Skye? If so, I have Autocom CDP+ which will interrogate your engine as well as any VIDA system for a 1997 V70. I am (technically) shut-down from my normal diagnostics business this year, but could make an exception.....

kevinjplee · Jun 12th, 2018, 11:05

Unfortunately I live on the other side from Skye, Armadale in Sutherland.
Pity I did not live in Armadale on Skye!
That said we a windoe installer ring us a few years ago from Skye saying he was "at bridge and could we give him directions"
would love o have seen his face when he realised he was in wrong place

The Flying Banana · Jun 12th, 2018, 14:07

This happened to me in a C70 .. out the blue .. wouldn't start again .. tried everything ( even the ring antenna around ignition )

Put a used Cam sensor in from a running car .. fired straight away

Jun 11th, 2018, 11:17	#1
kevinjplee New Member Last Online: Dec 24th, 2018 16:45 Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Armadale	Mysterious fault on 1997 V70 I was driving along when my car lost power and came o a halt. I rang RAC, who could not get car started, and towed car to my garage. Garage has investigated but can't find any reason for car to fail to start. Has fuel, turns over, ECU reports no faults and no apparent loose wires . I live in the North of Scotland (125 miles away from nearest volvo dealer) Any suggestions?

Jun 11th, 2018, 11:24	#2
Tatsfield Premier Member Last Online: Yesterday 11:04 Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Poole	When asking for advice it is wise to give as much detail as possible about the car with which you are experiencing the problem. The engine stopped running but you don't even say what type of engine the car has! So, engine type and transmission type would be a good start. If you want help, help the helpers to help you. __________________ 2012 XC70 SE Lux Polestar 230 bhp D5 Auto Oyster Grey

Jun 11th, 2018, 11:28	#3
kevinjplee New Member Last Online: Dec 24th, 2018 16:45 Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Armadale	Sorry for eror It is a 1997 V70XC, petrol with manual transmission. Prior to breakdown it was driving normally, and has never just stopped before

Jun 11th, 2018, 14:00	#4
Tatsfield Premier Member Last Online: Yesterday 11:04 Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Poole	With petrol engines the mantra is fuel, ignition, air and compression and all encompassed by timing. You have fuel but is it getting to the injectors and into the cylinders. When it gets to the cylinders, is there a spark to ignite it. Is the air supply blocked. Do the valves open to admit the air/fuel and close to allow the pistons to compress the mixture at the time that the spark is present. Since the engine was running and suddenly stopped, the likelihood is that the fault is electrical/electronic. The fact that the engine turns over isn't really relevant as that is the function of the starter motor which wouldn't have stopped the engine running. If your garage means that the car has fuel in the tank, that's a pretty basic thing but unless it gets to where it needs to go that could be the problem. Pumps are electric and injectors are electric If when it gets there the spark doesn't arrive, that's electric. If the throttle butterfly doesn't open to admit the air, that's also electric. If the car just will no longer start and run at all, the fault isn't transient. So possible culprits are the fuel pump, the ECU failing to operate the injectors, as if it were just an injector failure the engine would run rough. It might also be a failure of the throttle body butterfly servo and lastly it might be the total failure of the ignition system as, like the injectors, a single plug failing wouldn't stop the engine dead. However the ECU itself may be a conspirator in the game as it may be shutting down the engine to protect it once it registers the faulty component. So one injector or one plug might still be the problem! Of course the short answer is that you need to hook the car up to a Volvo VIDA/DiCE tester and let it tell you what's wrong. The car's fault logging system will know what's failed and the test gear will interrogate it and get the answer. Your choice is to buy your own on ebay to run on a suitable laptop, find the thread on the forum with the map of VIDA/DiCE owners and see if there is one near you or take the car to a dealer with the equipment. Be careful of garages with their own pet diagnostic systems as you can't really rely on anything other than the Volvo system. If you really live on the edge of the known world, having your own diagnostics would seem to be the sensible and in this case possibly only option. Someone may come on and say "Yes that's what happened to me and the answer is......" but they could have had a different fault and no one may respond. You may be on your own. __________________ 2012 XC70 SE Lux Polestar 230 bhp D5 Auto Oyster Grey Last edited by Tatsfield; Jun 11th, 2018 at 14:28.

Jun 11th, 2018, 14:17	#5
wilbydoughboy Senior Member Last Online: Jan 7th, 2024 19:47 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Wilby	Something similar happened to me when I owned a Suzuki van but I felt the van stuttering before it stopped. The problem was lack of petrol reaching the engine although there was enough in the tank and it needed a new fuel sender in the tank. Maybe if you put some more petrol in the tank and see if it helps. __________________ Volvo XC60 2.4 Drive SE 2010

Jun 11th, 2018, 19:10	#6
CTCNetwork Forum Support Team Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Liège, Belgium View Photos By: CTCNetwork	Hi, Also helps to post in the correct forum for your model and year of car... /Moving Des. . . __________________ Density:- Not just a measurement ~ It's a whole way of Life.! ! ! I drive a Volvo, Please Don't Get In My Way! OldVolvos4Ever He shows up. People die. He vanishes. People should not be afraid of their governments. "He'll deliver more justice in a weekend than 10 years of your Governments should be afraid of their people... "V" courts & tribunals. Just stay out of his way." "I plan to."

Jun 11th, 2018, 23:23	#8
SwedishBus Member Last Online: Apr 13th, 2024 23:24 Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Isle of Skye	Are you on Skye? If so, I have Autocom CDP+ which will interrogate your engine as well as any VIDA system for a 1997 V70. I am (technically) shut-down from my normal diagnostics business this year, but could make an exception..... __________________ 1998 V70 2.5 10v petrol 1997 V70 2.5 TDI

Jun 12th, 2018, 11:05	#9
kevinjplee New Member Last Online: Dec 24th, 2018 16:45 Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Armadale	Unfortunately I live on the other side from Skye, Armadale in Sutherland. Pity I did not live in Armadale on Skye! That said we a windoe installer ring us a few years ago from Skye saying he was "at bridge and could we give him directions" would love o have seen his face when he realised he was in wrong place

Jun 12th, 2018, 14:07	#10
The Flying Banana Junior Member Last Online: Oct 24th, 2021 12:53 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dunfermline	This happened to me in a C70 .. out the blue .. wouldn't start again .. tried everything ( even the ring antenna around ignition ) Put a used Cam sensor in from a running car .. fired straight away

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